The main difference between a Russian bath is a closed heater
The main and main difference between a Russian bath and a dry air steam room in air conditions. The bath should not have a very high temperature and high humidity. Temperature is about 45-70°C, humidity 50-70%.
Such a wide range of parameters is due to the fact that everyone has their own preferences and habits, and secondly, that the steam room in Russian has several modes: they begin to warm up when the air warms up to 45°, and supply water to the stones at higher temperatures . Hence the difference in performance.
Those who did not have a separate bathhouse steamed right inside a large oven, putting an armful of hay down so as not to get burned
This regime developed, apparently due to the fact that the baths were heated with stone stoves and other regimes were simply unavailable. But, as scientists have shown in their studies, it is precisely these parameters that contribute to the healing of the human body. So even today there is nothing better for a Russian bathhouse than a brick oven. But, for many reasons, not everyone and not always can deliver it. Today, metal sauna stoves are the most widely used.
There are a lot of metal sauna stoves in different types. They are available in different designs and price ranges. Moreover, most have an open heater, in which the stones are constantly blown by air currents. Such stoves cannot be placed in a Russian steam room. They simply cannot provide the required regime. Due to the high heat transfer of the metal case, the air overheats greatly. It is impossible to obtain steam of the required condition from an open heater: it must have a very high temperature and consist of very small droplets. This kind of steam is called light: after the steam room you feel light in your body and your head never hurts. So, you can’t get that kind of steam from an open heater. It comes out wet and heavy. And it is after such a steam that my head hurts.
If the heater in a metal stove is closed, you can get good steam from it
And yet, a Russian bathhouse can have a metal stove. But in addition to the external one (not necessarily, but preferably), it should also have an internal, closed heater, and of a fairly large volume. With this design, the stones are heated to 500°C and higher. This is against 200-250°C in an open heater. By pouring water onto superheated stones, you get that same light and almost transparent steam that connoisseurs of the Russian bath talk about.
Shielding walls
In addition to having a closed heater, it is also important to shield hard radiation from the walls of the metal stove. Some manufacturers take care of this themselves: they make double metal casings around the body that stifle convection (Kutkin and Feringer ovens). Lining with natural minerals also helps. Many manufacturers have such stoves, but the cost of natural cladding is very high, so these stoves are not cheap at all.
You can significantly reduce radiation from a metal case yourself. To do this, a brick screen is erected around the body. In order to be able to regulate heat transfer, vents are made in it, into which doors are inserted (usually oven casting).
Bathhouse with a metal stove lined with brick. For a softer mode, it would be nice to screen the pipe either with a mesh with stones or a brick cover
Another way to reduce heat transfer from the walls of the furnace is to line the inside of the firebox with refractory bricks (ША5 or ША8). If the volume of the firebox allows, this is done from the inside. You can lay bricks on fireclay mortar, which is used to lay the core of a brick kiln. You should not use cement mortar: it will crumble. There is another method of lining with fireclay: “dry”. For masonry without mortar, the bricks are cut to form a castle. This is how they are connected.
You can place the bricks upright or on a spoon - whichever fits best in the firebox. Just don’t cover the container for the stones, otherwise you’ll be waiting a long time for the pair.
All these measures together - a closed heater and suppressed heat transfer from the body - give the required atmosphere of a Russian bath. Oddly enough, we don’t have many stoves that can be placed in a Russian bathhouse. Most of what is on the market is only suitable for dry and hot air saunas. There are very few manufacturers who make metal stoves specifically for Russian steam baths.
Steam gun
A closed heater works better the more it is isolated from the walls of the stove, and even more so from the air in the steam room. Then the stones can be heated until they glow crimson. But then the question arises: “How to supply water there?”
This is how a steam gun works. The design is the simplest, there are more complex and branched ones
To produce steam, a tube (system of tubes) with holes is inserted into the heater. A funnel or glass is attached to it outside. Water is poured into them. Flowing down the tube, it ends up at the bottom of the heater, on the hottest stones. This device is called a steam gun. Why “steam” is understandable. And why it’s a “gun” becomes clear at the very first try: the sound of the escaping steam is very loud and similar to a gunshot.
When installing such a device, it is advisable not to limit yourself to one tube, but to create a branched system below that will evenly distribute water throughout the heater and supply it to the hottest places.
Sauna stove Harvia Delta Combi D 29 SE
Photo: market.yandex.ru
The Harvia Delta Combi electric stove is a compact stove for a small sauna with wide functionality. The electric heater is equipped with a steam generator, thanks to which it can operate in the mode of a traditional sauna, steam bath, herbal or aromatic bath. The compact triangular shape allows it to be placed in a corner. Installing it does not require much effort: the stove is easily attached to the wall using a bracket that is already included in the delivery package. The Harvia electric heater has an elegant stainless steel outer casing.
Sauna stove Harvia Delta Combi D 29 SE
Advantages:
- Quality
- Compactness
- Reliability
- Steam generator
- Wide functionality
EasyStim ovens
EasyStim sauna stoves are made of stainless steel with a chromium content of 17%, 4-6 mm thick. To reduce the number of welds, the firebox and stone container are formed by bending and stamping. To strengthen the walls, the firebox has additional stiffening ribs, and to improve the heating of the stones and reduce the load on the bottom of the heater, it is made of a round shape.
The design of the Izistim Anapa stove is a rather voluminous closed heater
To prevent flames from entering the chimney, there is a flame breaker in the firebox. For more efficient use of the energy of burning fuel, the chimney channel is curved. As a result, flue gases go around the stone container from all sides, which contributes to better heating of the stones.
To adjust the operating mode, there is a knob at the top of the oven that changes the position of the thermostat damper. In one position (the gap is open), the steam room is intensively heated, in the other (the gap is closed) the stones are heated.
These stoves have standard steam generators: a system of tubes with holes located inside a closed heater. The water entering there falls on the lower, very hot stones. Thanks to the hole system, it is evenly distributed over a large area. Once on the hot stones, the water evaporates. The resulting steam tends upward to the outlet. Bypassing the stones located above along the way. As a result, it breaks down into even smaller components, warms up even more and comes out almost transparent. This is the steam that is called “light”.
Range of stoves with closed heater EasyStim
The company produces five lines. Four for private baths of different sizes: Anapa, Sochi, Gelendzhik, Yalta. And “Cherepovets blast furnace” - for professional use. A special feature of stoves with a closed EasySteam heater is the side door for servicing the heater. It can be located on the right or left - specify which is more convenient for you when ordering.
Furnaces can be supplied with a brick screen lining, or they can be lined with soapstone or coil slabs. Technical characteristics of the main models under the lining are given in the table. In modifications with cladding, the weight increases significantly (the mass of the cladding is about 200-250 kg) and the overall dimensions slightly increase; the price, of course, increases significantly).
Technical characteristics of Izistim bath stoves (to enlarge the table, right-click on it)
In the EasySteam "Anapa" line there is a modification B9. It does not have a side extension for servicing the stone backfill. The rest of the parameters are the same as the base model.
Design of the Izistim Yalta furnace. Although this is a grid stove, it has a closed heater
The Sochi, Anapa and Gelendzhik lines have the same internal structure. They differ in power, which means they are suitable for steam rooms of different sizes. Modifications in the same line differ in the size of the tank for stones, and therefore in the thermal inertia of the stove. The more stones, the longer it takes for the room to warm up. But you can get more steam from a large mass of stones. Greater inertia is also good for drying the steam room: the mass of stones, having accumulated heat, releases it for a long time.
The new product among the EasySteam “Yalta” sauna stoves has a different design. This is a kind of grid stove, but of a non-standard design: the internal closed heater is located around the smoke channel, and this, in turn, is surrounded by an open ventilated heater. This design makes it possible to shield radiation without expensive cladding or a massive screen, and to obtain good, light vapor. So EasySteam “Yalta” can definitely be used in a Russian bathhouse.
Reviews about EasyStim stoves
I took a steam bath with my father in a bathhouse with a brick stove, but when I built mine, the stove maker had already died, there were no others. I spent a long time choosing a stove for a cover, and as a result I bought Sochi Izistim. I will say that I was right. According to my feelings, the steam is the same as my father’s. I don’t like that the glass gets dirty when heating and the adjustment knobs are hot - you can’t handle it with your hands. But the steam is great. My sauna requires two stacks of firewood. With the doors open, I heat the screen up to 60°, then I close it and the temperature drops to 50°, and then it rises by five degrees and stays that way. The steam gun is a beast. I don’t fill more than 2 ladles with 0.2 each, otherwise you’ll have to fall on the floor. The steam is excellent.
Roman, Moscow
I have Anapa under a brick sarcophagus. In summer, the bathhouse reaches the desired mode in 1.5-2 hours. In winter I got out of the minus, so I went to steam after 3.5. While it is not very cold outside, the stove itself copes with heating all the rooms. I don’t have a very large bathhouse, 5*6, and in the washing room a 100-liter water tank works like a battery. After it warms up, of course.
Grigory, Naberezhnye Chelny
This is an Izistim Anapa stove lined with bricks
I have a small tourism business: fishing and hunting. But what about such entertainment without a bathhouse? I had a homemade stove made from a pipe, but it burned out. Changed it to Izistim Sochi with a large laying of stones. I didn't expect it to be so good. I can please both clients who want dry and hot steam, and those who need a cool and humid sauna. You just need to open/close the dampers differently. And here is a different bathhouse for you. Both are satisfied. Many good words have already been said. So I'm very pleased with this stove.
Anatoly, Vologda
Sauna stove Tylo Sense Sport 2/4
Photo: market.yandex.ru
The stove is ideal for small rooms with a volume of 2 to 4 cubic meters. It has a switch between 2.2 and 4.5 kilowatts. The oven is equipped with a compartment for aromatic mixtures. The device contains modern electronics, which not only makes life easier for users, but also saves them money. The heater is capable of switching to economical mode when the set temperature is reached. The system simply uses fewer heating elements, maintaining the atmosphere at the desired level. The combined air flows make it possible to reach a temperature of 80 degrees Celsius in less than half an hour.
Sauna stove Tylo Sense Sport 2/4
Advantages:
- Quality
- Reliability
- Compactness
- Economical
- Efficiency
- Flavor container
Enchantress stoves for Russian baths
These stoves are produced by the Russian company Inzhkomtsentr VVD. This brand is not the only product of this company. They also produce cast iron bathhouse stoves Kalita and cast iron and steel Sudarushka.
“Sorceress” stoves are made of heat-resistant steel AISI 439. The outside can be lined with soapstone, coil or refractory fireclay bricks.
These are two options for lining furnaces: coil and fireclay bricks
Among the features of the stove is a firebox consisting of two chambers. In the lower one the fuel burns, in the upper one, when secondary air is supplied, the flue gases burn out. As a result, the stove has high efficiency and low fuel consumption: the energy of wood combustion is almost completely directed to heating the heater.
The heater in the stoves is large. It is engulfed in flames on five sides, heating the stones to high temperatures. But the top of the heater is open. This is good for saunas and bad for Russian baths. But for the Enchantress, you can buy a steam accumulator - this is a kind of lid for the heater, which at the same time allows you to increase the laying of stones (the power of any stove for heating additional mass is more than enough).
There are two lines produced under this brand: Enchantress (with modifications) and “Russian Steam” (two versions). Their technical parameters are summarized in tables.
Technical characteristics of sauna stoves with a closed heater Enchantress (to increase the size of the table, right-click on it)
As the name implies, the “Russian Steam” stove is more suitable for a Russian bath. It initially has a closed heater with a lid on it. It is needed for more convenient maintenance. Also, by opening/closing the lid, we change the heating modes. When the lid is open, the steam room actively warms up, and when the lid is closed, the stones are actively heated.
By retrofitting the Enchantress stove with a steam generator (except for the MK modification), we get the same effect.
The unusual mesh heater Charodeyka MK also has a closed heater. If you look at its drawing, you can see that the stones located inside are also heated by the chimney.
Structure of the mesh furnace Charodeyka MK
In general, with certain modifications - lids and cast iron instead of some stones - you can use the “Enchantress” for a Russian steam room. The Enchantress Russian Steam stove has a closed heater even without additional equipment, so it can also produce light steam, and the lining successfully extinguishes most of the hard radiation.
Reviews of the Enchantress stoves
This is a small stove for the Enchantress Micro bath.
I have an Enchantress M in chamotte lining. It works fine, but there are not enough stones. The steam turns out to be heavy, and the steam room overheats. I added a lid to the heater and added cast iron instead of some of the stones - it helped. Now the steam is good, there is enough of it and the temperature is normal 70-75°.
Georgiy, Moscow
I have been using Enchantress M for quite some time. A year later there were no changes. Nothing worked, a color change appeared on the top door, where the afterburner was located. Kind of a tarnished color. And there was a little soot inside. After another two years, the furnace did fail. The top sagged about 3 cm and the sides were bent. We heat it on weekends, without much fanaticism - in a Russian bath, not in a sauna. The walls are still a bit thin, but I think it will work for another 2-3 years. No burnout yet.
Boris, Tambov
Electric stove Steamborn Comfort FC-60
Photo: market.yandex.ru
Modern Steamborn Comfort heaters, due to their low price and excellent heating power, will become indispensable assistants for those who are not ready to spend extra money on expensive designer heaters. Simple and reliable design, combined with ergonomic design and economical price. The stove is equipped with a simple and intuitive control unit that allows you to adjust the temperature in the room, as well as set the operating time of the heater.
Electric stove Steamborn Comfort FC-60
Advantages:
- Price
- Reliability
- Easy to use
- Comfort
Sauna stoves ParAvoz
The appearance of ParAvoz sauna stoves (erroneously called “Steam Locomotive” according to the rules of the Russian language) is strange: they are made from a pipe laid horizontally. Visually, they really look like old steam locomotives. Hence the name (only with the letter “A” in the middle).
These stoves can be classified as “indestructible”: for 6-7 years they have been used daily in many commercial baths and have not yet burned out. If you consider that a family bathhouse is usually heated a couple of times a week, then the resource is simply colossal.
The Steam Locomotive stoves don't look the most attractive, but they work great
There must be a brick screen around the stove - this is the only way the steam room will not overheat. You can “get” a lot of steam and it is transparent and hot. It is almost impossible to fill the heater. Representatives of the RusPar campaign tried to do this during extreme testing. As a result, about 20 liters of water were poured out over 10 minutes. Each time the furnace was restored (the metal and stones dried out) in less than a minute. The steam cake turned out more than decent, as did the air conditioning. See the video for more details.
Model range and technical characteristics
The steam locomotive oven is made from a steel pipe with a diameter of 430-65 mm, wall thickness - 8-10 mm. Length - from 80 cm to 1 meter - depending on the required power. The weight of the stove itself is considerable - from 160 kg to 330 kg, plus a considerable amount of stones. The stones heat up very efficiently. This is facilitated by the special vaulted shape of the firebox and some original design solutions (the firebox was developed by Academician A.G. Dobrovolsky).
To date, 11 modifications of Parovoz stoves are produced, their parameters and technical characteristics are given in the table.
Technical characteristics of ParAvoz sauna stoves (to increase the size of the table, right-click on it)
Furnaces with the same technical data are equipped with different furnace castings, otherwise the design is the same. On some, the shape of the front part and its decoration have been changed (with or without different patterns).
Reviews of steam bath stoves ParAvoz
I have a steam locomotive. The stove is great, the steam is light. But I put a solid brick screen around it. It gains temperature in 4 hours. So, you won’t get burned on it when steaming (we start steaming 50-60 minutes after heating).
Grigory, Moscow
Cast iron stoves pros and cons
At the same time, it is worth remembering what the pros and cons of cast iron sauna stoves are. This is especially true when choosing a stove for a specific bathhouse project; here it is worth considering not only the general characteristics of the material, but also the parameters of a specific model. Although when choosing, most people pay attention to the general advantages of cast iron stoves:
- High thermal conductivity and efficiency. For cast iron models it reaches 80-82%;
- High strength and durability;
- They are well preserved even in conditions of high humidity;
- They do not require special care and maintenance;
- Light weight compared to brick buildings;
- They have a large number of accessories, such as glass doors or special linings;
- This is one of the safest types of stoves.
As for the downsides, there are really few of them:
- High and sometimes exorbitant price of the product;
- Not everywhere it is possible to purchase a stove right away; most often, such accessories are supplied to order upon prior request.
